William white



(No Moda.)

W. WHITE. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 449,188. Patented Mar. 31,1891.

llini'rnn States Patent* irniicnl 'WILLIAM THIT OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,188, dated March 311891. Application filed December 3, 1889. Serial No. 332,411. (Nomodel.)

To ctZZ 107mm, it may concrn:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WHITE, electrical engineer, a citizen ofEngland, residing at Langside, Baker Road, llarlesden, in the county ofMiddlesex, England, have invented a new and useful Improvcment inElectric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

llly invention relates to a simple and inexpensive construction ofelectric switch, so arranged that in one position it makes effectivccontact for closing the circuit to which it is applied, and that when itis moved a little from that position it automatically makes a rapid andcomplete break of contact, as I shall describe, referring to theaccompanying drawings.

Figure l is a Vertical section. Fig. E2 is a plan, the cover and thehandle above the line X in Fig. 1 being supposed to be removed.

A vis a strip of brass or other suitable metal, the two ends of whichare divided by slits into three, or it may be more, parts, which arestepped in their length, so that the first is a little longer than thesecond, the second than the third, and so on. These parts are bent downso that their ends are at the same level but at different radialdistances from the center of the strip, which is fitted on a centralspindle M.

In order to strengthen the middle portion of the strip A through whichthe spindle passes, a piece J is fixed on it by rivets, solder, orotherwise. On a base Gof insulating material are fixed twodiametrically-opposite contact-plates F, which are radially stepped incorrespondence with the steps of the bent ends of the divisions of A,and have the edges of their steps sloped a little downward. In thecenter of the base G is fixed a metal bush N, through which passes thespindle M. In a recess'in the under'side of the base G is a spring S,bearing against the bolt-head of the spindle M, so as to urge thespindle downward. Above the piece .l the spindle M passes through a holein a metal washer K and in a handle-head L, of ebonite or other suitableinsulating material, to which the washer K is turned backward until theother end of the fixed by screws. In a recess at the top of the head Lthere is a nut screwcd on the end of the spindle M. A pin R, fixed inthe piece J, stands up into a circularly-slotted hole C, made in thewasher K. Under the strip A there is a helical spring P, the one end ofwhich is inserted into a hole in the bush N and the other end into ahole in the'strip A, the spring being so set as to bring the strip Ainto the closed position A, (shown in Fig. 2,) in which position thecircuit is open. The internal parts are covered by a hood ll.

The two contact-plates F being connected, respectivcly, to the wires ofthe eircuit.to which the switch is applied, the operation is as follows:Then it is desired to close the eircuit, the head li is turned by hand,and the pin R being at one end of the slot Cthe strip A is caused toturn with it in opposition to the spring P until the bent ends of Asimultaueously reach the steps of the contactplates F. By a little moreforce applied to the head L the bent arms of A are caused to mount theslopes at the ends of the steps of F, the spring S yielding a little toallow the moving parts to rise until the stepped ends are in closecontact with the plates F closing the Circuit. The switch is held inposition by the strain of the spring S pressing the bent ends of A downon the plates F. Then it is desired to open the Circuit, the head L isslot O reaches the pin R and begins to move the strip A along with thehead. After a little inotion enough to release the bent ends of A fromtheir strain on the plates F the spring P causes the strip A to make arapid movement, and thus the bent ends of A are almost instantaneouslyremoved from contact with the plates F, and the circuit is opened.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and the best means Iknow for carrying the same into practical effect, I claim- 1. Anelectric switch consisting of central spindle M, movable longitudinally,on which are fitted an insulating-handle L, having a circular slot O,and a metal strip A, having its ends stepped and divided and having apin R engaged in a slot (i, in combination with Springs S and P and wiLhstopped ooniaot plates F, the whole mounted on an insnlating'- base G,snbstantially as dosoribed.

In an electric switch, stepped contactpiates having the edg'es of theirSteps sloped downward, in combination Withoori'espondingiy-stepped'contact-arms and a shaftmovabielongitudinallyand'having a friction head 01' shonider, substantially as deseribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of i two subsoi'ibing witnesses, this 15th day of November, A.D. 1889.

WILLIAM WHITE.

